[Welland Tribune, 30 July 1986]
PELHAM-Tony Whelan thinks his family has been done an historical injustice and he is determined to see it get right.
Whelan, a member of the Dawdy clan, says the town of Pelham broke an agreement to keep the Dawdy Burying ground name when it was changed to the Hillside Cemetery in 1933. The graveyard along Canboro Road near Effingham Street was taken over by the town in 1926 and he claims the agreement was made then.
Whelan said he learned of the agreement between the town and the cemetery’s trustees from his grandparents.
“When I three or four years ole I would visit people along with my grandparents and I would hear them discussing the issue.”
He said it stuck in his mind and last year he finally checked the record had to be set straight. Whelan approached the town last fall and presented his research. He asked that the Hillside Cemetery should be renamed back to the title it had since the early 1800s’.
Whelan said the renaming would acknowledge his family’s place and role in Pelham’s history. “There are parks and streets named after politicians and others for their community service. I just want the same thing.”
He said he is not alone in his battle but has numerous other clan members backing his efforts. He expects 50 of them to attend a meeting with Pelham town council on August 18when the issue will come up again.
The Dawdy Clan can trace their Canadian roots back to the year 1800 when Jeremiah and Susanna Dawdy moved to Pelham from New Jersey. They purchased 175 acres of land in the area of what is now known as Canboro Road and Centre Streets.
When Jeremiah died he was buried on the family farm, thereby creating the Dawdy Burying Ground. His family and descendants continued to grow and prosper in Pelham. Whelan says they were never community leaders or politicians but simple hard-working farmers.
As they died most of the Dawdy clan were laid out beside their forefathers in the same graveyard. Whelan said there are now more than seven generations and 130 descendants buried there..
Over the years the graveyard expanded and non-family members were buried there as well. The Beckett family became associated with the cemetery and many of their family descendants were buried there. There are reports the cemetery was known as Beckett’s Graveyard at one time but Whelan disputes this and the facts are debatable.
TRUSTEES
A board of trustees took over the administration of the site in the early 1800s and continued to run it right up until 1926 when the town assumed the responsibility.
Whelan said the town never filed a deeming bylaw and therefore it doesn’t even actually own the cemetery, “Not that we want it. All we want is the historical name back.”
He has still yet to find a document which can prove the existence of the agreement to keep the Dawdy name but he said the weight of the historical evidence he has accumulated is more than enough to prove his case.
“I won’t take no for an answer now. There are just too many facts for this case to be ignored. He said he is willing to take the case as far it has to go to see the name changed. “
Right now Whelan is preparing for the first round on August 18 when he will have a chance to speak before the town council.
[Welland Tribune, 29 May 1896]
To Tribune Editor:
DEAR SIR-Having a little leisure time and thinking some of the many readers of our valuable paper might feel interested in this part of the country, I write you a short account of a pleasant evening that occurred at the residence of Mrs. J.L. Becker, Olds, Alta., on the 22nd April, being the marriage of her sister, Isabella, daughter of the late Geo. M. Maier, to Mr. A. J. Brown (both formerly of South Pelham). The marriage ceremony w performed by Rev. C.R. Sing of Innisfail, and witnessed by the immediate relatives and seven chosen friends of the bride. The bride and groom were ably supported by her sister, Miss J. Maier, and Rev. J.W. McKay of Olds. The presents shewed the great esteem in which the bride is held by her new acquaintances.
ONE WHO WAS THERE.
Olds, Alberta, May 13, 1896
Pelham News
[Welland Tribune, 29 May 1896]
It is with much regret that many friends learned of the death on Friday last of Margaret G. Taylor, beloved wife of William Sanderson, of Pelham, near Effingham, after a comparatively short illness, being confined to her bed but three weeks. She leaves her husband, two sons, Taylor, of St. Catharines, Joseph J., and a daughter, Annie E., to mourn her death. She was a woman of earnest Christian character and her death will be mourned by many. The funeral took place on Tuesday morning from the family residence to the North Pelham burying ground, the religious services at the house and grave being conducted by the Rev. Walter Roger.
[Welland Tribune, 29 May 1896]
A native of the county and a former resident of Welland town died at Buffalo on Friday evening last in the person of Samuel Hopkins. He had been ill of stomach trouble for a long time, and about a week prior to his death heart trouble asserted itself and his demise is attributed to heart failure. Deceased was born in Pelham and for many years carried on the stove and tin business in this town, part of the time in company with N.J. Clayton. About six years ago he became a resident of the city in which he died. He leaves a widow, a daughter of the late Jesse Yokom of Crowland, two daughters and one son. The remains were brought to Canada and interred in Fonthill cemetery on Monday, a large number of old friends of the family following the body to the grave.
North Pelham News
[Welland Tribune, 29 May 1896]
Wm. Disher, an old and respected resident of this place, died on Monday, 18th inst., at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Peter Brown. The funeral took place on Wednesday and was very largely attended, Rev. W.M. Roger officiating. Deceased leaves a family of four daughters and one son, viz: Mrs. Samuel Moyer, Jordon; Mrs. David Cohoe, Wellandport; Mrs. Nicholas, Canfield; Mrs. Adams, Michigan; David Russel Disher, Wainfleet. All grown up and doing for themselves. His wife had predeceased him by many years.
[Welland Tribune, 22 May 1896]
It was a shock to our citizen’s to hear of the death of George Lee, whose demise took place at Port Huron, Mich., on Monday morning, 18th ult., of this week. Mr. Lee had been ill most of the winter with rheumatism, and heart trouble had recently been added to his afflictions; but the change for the better was apparently so marked during the past week that death was wholly unlooked for. On Sunday he sat up, and expressed the hope that he would be up the following day. Early on Monday morning he was taken violently ill, and at 10 a.m. passed to rest. An autopsy on the body revealed the immediate cause of death to have been fatty degeneration of the heart. Deceased was a son of the late Samuel Lee and brother of Mrs. Jos. McCollum and Miss Libbie Lee, of Welland. For many years he was one of our best known and most popular residents, but his extensive dredging business had of late years occupied his time elsewhere. He was a partner with his brother-in-law, Jos. McCollum, and the firm’s contracts have proved a series of successes. Mr. Lee leaves a widow (formerly Miss Brown of Thorold) and three sons, in affluent circumstances. The remains were interred at Port Huron on Wednesday afternoon, Rev. Mr. Mundy of the Episcopal church conducting the services. Rev. Dr. Johnstone of Welland, deceased’s former pastor, was also present at the funeral. Mrs. Lee and the family have the united sympathy of their many warm friends in Canada in their honor of sad bereavement.
[Welland Tribune, 22 May 1896]
Mrs. Warrington, who lives with her son-in-law, David Ross, celebrated her 87th birthday anniversary on the 19th inst. For one of her years she is remarkably smart, and promises well to complete a century of life.
Humberstone News
[Welland Tribune, 22 May 1896]
Mrs. Sophia Grabau, wife of the Rev. John Grabau, died May 14th, 1896, in the 54th year of her age, at her residence, Bergholtz, N.Y., after a lingering illness of consumption. Deceased was a daughter of the late Godfrey Harnisch of Humberstone, and a sister of the late M.W. Near. The funeral was held on Sunday and was largely attended. A husband, two daughters and five sons mourn the loss of a loving wife and kind mother.
{Compiled by “S”}
The Fenwick railway station was on the 104 mile main line, Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo railway.
By March 30, 1896 the line was open to Welland with stops in Fenwick and Chantler. The Fenwick station was located on Church Street north of Foss Road. It shipped freight and passengers. Passengers traveled from Toronto to United States. Most of the freight was from the nurseries and canning factory in Fonthill.
During the war, prisoners of war were shipped through here to camps in northern Ontario.
A.J. ALSOP was a ticket agent for many years, retiring in 1959. WALTER ANGLE was the agent from 1961 until closing. Mrs E. WOODS and husband WES was caretaker agents.
The last train stopped in Fenwick at 10:07 pm February 28, 1966. The station was closed and sold.
Dr. Dowd was born December 3, 1896 in Quyon, Quebec. His parents were Margaret and Stewart Dowd. There were seven sons. His father owned a flour mill. In 1907 the family moved to Ottawa.
1914 to 1918 Joseph served in the Canadian Armed Forces in England. In 1926 Dr. Dowd received his medical degree from McGill. He had a one year internship at Ottawa Civic Hospital and then to New York City where he trained in obstetrics.
1926-28 his brother Dr. Kenneth Dowd had a medical practice in Fenwick and was in charge of medical care for men in the construction of the Welland Canal.
Joseph took on the medical practice in Fenwick June 1, 1928, while his brother Kenneth became chief medical officer of C.N.R.
In 1930 Dr. Joseph Everett Dowd married Charlotte Burton R.N., a nursing supervisor at Welland County General Hospital.
In 1936 they bought a lot from William B. Bown on Canboro Road Fenwick. They built a home with an office where they lived until 1980.
They had three children, Joyce born 1932, Richard born 1935, Ronald born 1936.
For 38 years Dr. Dowd was medical officer of health for Township of Pelham.
They attended the Fenwick United Church.
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